Colombo, 13 November, (Asiantribune.com): At the recent AGM of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) along with the election of its President, Kosala Wickramanayake, Tissa Jayaweera was elected the Senior Vice President and Kumar Mallimarachchi was elected as the vice president of FCCISL.

Mr Jayaweera holds a Diploma in Technology Sri Lanka, Bachelor Science and Master Science from the US. He served as an engineer for six years in Sri Lanka, proceeded to USA and served Pepsi Cola and General Motors

He subsequently joined Interkiln Corporation of America to transfer Ceramic Manufacture Technology to factories operated by Interkiln in Peoples Republic of China. Mr Jayaweera achieved the Best Sales Person Award of General Motors for Southern California on many occasions.

He returned to Sri Lanka in 1985 rose up through the ranks to hold many key positions as Chairman/ Managing Director Ceylon Ceramics Corporation (CCC). He was appointed Chairman / MD Lanka Porcelain (Pvt) Ltd. by Noritake and Chairman / MD Lanka Wall Tiles Ltd, Lanka Tiles Ltd and Lanka Refractories Ltd by the Board of Directors becoming the first in history to be Chairman / MD of the group.

Mr Jayaweera was also the Director / Advisor of Japan Asia Investment Company Ltd and under his advice and direction completed the tallest building in Sri Lanka the JAIC Tower a 33 story fully serviced apartment complex managed by Hilton International. He was responsible for establishment of the first ICT company, ITMIN Ltd a deal between Government of Sri Lanka / UNDP / UNIDO and the Private Sector.

Mr Jayaweera was appointed Vice President Asia, Interkiln Corporation of America to negotiate deals in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. He established the largest tile factory under one roof Interbatch Porcelain Ltd in Sri Lanka. Restructured Prince Glass of Pakistan, Increased production capacity of Hindustan Ceramics India, modernized technology of Bengal Pottery Bangladesh

Kumar Mallimaratchi, Vice President, FCCISL is a graduate in Hotel Management from International School of Tourism in Italy, a life member of the Cornell Hotel Society and a member of Institute of Hospitality (United Kingdom). Former Chairman of Ceylon Hotels Corporation, President of Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka. He is the present Chairman of Tourism Training Centre, Managing Director of Associated Hotels Company & Consultant to Galle Face Hotel Group of companies.

He joined Royal Lancaster Hotel in London as an industrial release student in 1979 and returned to Sri Lanka in 1979 to join Ceylon Hotels Corporation (CHC) as Airport Catering Manager in 1981. He became the Assistant General Manager operations in 1986 & General Manager in 1988.

He was appointed Chairman, Ceylon Hotels Corporation in 1990 and also appointed as Chairman of United Hotels, Associated Hotels Co. and Director of Hotel Ceylon Intercontinental, Airline Services limited, the general Sales agents for British Airways in Sri Lanka.

He is a member of Statutory Accounting Standards Committee of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka & member of Hotel Classification Committee of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board since 2001.

He is also the Chairman of SAARC Tourism Council Sri Lanka chapter in addition to being an Executive Committee member of the SAARC Chambers of Commerce & Industry. He is now elected the Vice President, FCCISL.